Those of you who visit my blog may have noticed a somewhat watery theme in my photographs. It comes from living with the wild Atlantic Ocean to one side, and the beautiful Lough Eske and River Eske among the many natural water features in the area. There is a plentiful supply of water here. It is unpolluted and a great source of inspiration for writing and photography.

But for 2 out of every 7 people in the world, a supply of clean water is viewed as the ultimate, unattainable luxury. That means 2.5 billion people do not have access to clean water for drinking or washing.

Water is essential to life so its absence or contamination has devastating consequences. Every year 1.7 million people die because of insufficient clean water. On top of that more than 1 million children die each year from water-borne diseases. Yes, you read that correctly. More than 1 million children die each year from water-borne diseases.

Organisations involved in humanitarian aid prioritise access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene. This is a broadly recognised system that bears the acronym WASH. Humanitarian WASH projects include provision of wells, sewage and water systems, and training to help communities become self-reliant in recovery from disaster.

Today is World Water Day, so take a moment to reflect on the essential role of water, the privilege of living in a society with access to good quality water and the importance of preserving its supply for future generations.

Thank you for bringing more awareness to a basic need for survival, Water is more important for survival than food. Water not only needs to be potable for drinking, but also for growing nourishing and safe crops.

Reblogged this on Unload and Unwind and commented:
Water is something many of us take for granted even in a country like Australia where we are often affected by drought. But few in the First World countries truly know the desperation that many feel. This post is an excellent reminder of this and offers a chance through the link to find out more and if we can help in any way.